Rita Soares, a shepherd who just moved from Melbourne to regional Victoria, is devastated. To date, she has inexplicably lost her 11 male llamas. A catastrophic fire destroyed a Campo Verde Alpacas and Llamas, her farm 35 kilometers south of Bendigo. This tragedy took the lives of almost all her llamas, leaving her only a few female llama and an alpaca herd of about 25 to maintain.
The fire took her llamas’ lives and devastated her property. As it did in much of Maui, the fire obliterated a cultural and historical landscape, including the sacred fencing and the livestock float. Though recovery efforts are still underway, and their neighborhood has not yet been safely cleared, Rita Soares and her partner, Anthony Crane, would like to already be home.
Devastation of the Blaze
The damage from the fire that ravaged Campo Verde Alpacas and Llamas hit Soares hard. Of her 11 male llamas, they all died in the fire. The few that did survive faced catastrophic injuries and were ultimately euthanized after rescue.
“We had 11 male llamas and two female llamas … all 11 males have passed away,” – Rita Soares
Soares’ sadness over the loss of her animals runs deep and it’s easy to recognize at how vital these animals were in her life. Though all these losses have brought devastation, she counts herself fortunate that her home almost escaped the fire, surviving—but only partly intact.
“I actually wish the house had burnt down and I had my animals survive,” – Rita Soares
Soares’ biggest test is ahead of him. She needs to find a way to restore her farm and her emotional health after this unimaginable loss.
Caring for Surviving Animals
In the wake of the fire, Rita Soares is trying to take care of the animals she has left. However, she continues to care for two female llamas as well as 25 alpacas. These animals are essential to providing the mental health support she needs.
“The alpacas, they’ve been my therapists, a family that I’ve never had,” – Rita Soares
She emphasizes her desire to provide the best possible care for her few animals who are left. As the horses do their best to recover, she ensures they receive the freshest lucerne and cleanest water available.
“We’re trying to get their life back to normal, giving them as much good quality food, such as nice fresh lucerne and clean water,” – Rita Soares
Soares enjoys the close relationship she’s developed with her animals. They’ve been instrumental in helping her find strength to carry her through this challenging chapter.
“I think the reason I’m still alive is because of my animals. They have given me so much strength, and I need them to keep going on,” – Rita Soares
Rebuilding After Tragedy
As Rita Soares works through the insurance claims process after the fire, she’s unsure what will even be covered.
“We have insurance, but the process is just heartbreaking to go through. We don’t yet know what is going to be covered,” – Rita Soares
She’s committed to rebuilding her farm and raising the remaining survivors in her herd. We know that the road before us is not easy. Soares is focused on ensuring that her surviving animals continue to receive the attention and affection they need and deserve.
